AMBITION, talent and affability are just a few words that spring to mind when talking to make-up artist Lauren Sexton. The Shannon native has recently set up her own business from her base in Smithstown and at just 25 years old, has a list of accomplishments that defy her youth.
A certified fashion week make-up artist has worked with local celebrities including Celia Holman Lee and her models, along with the Cranberries front woman Dolores O’Riordan just three weeks before her tragic passing. These are among the strings on the bow of Lauren, who was inspired to establish her own business as she reflected on her career earlier this year while she was isolating due to a Covid diagnosis.
The former St Caimin’s Secondary School student finished her studies at the School of Makeup Artistry in Galway in 2015 and started building up her own clientele before landing a job at Benefit Cosmetics in Brown Thomas. In just four months, she was poached by the manager at Mac, something which Lauren admits was a dream job at the time. “I stayed with Mac in Brown Thomas for four years and then moved to Mac in Shannon Airport and did two years there.”
During her time in Shannon, Lauren’s credentials progressed as she completed her fashion week certificate and then won a competition to work on the performing acts backstage at the Tomorrowland Music Festival in Belgium, where she was the only makeup artist from Ireland, something she says was an “amazing experience”.
“By that stage I had begun to really build up a clientele so I decided to go out on my own. I had Covid myself in February and after that I plucked up a bit of courage with some encouragement from my dad James who has a unit in Smithstown with his events company Hiya. We did up a room, my 17-year-old brother Adam put the floors in and we painted it,” recounts Lauren.
During the lockdown, Lauren admits to “hitting an all-time low” with not being able to work and not content with waiting for restrictions to left, she sold out two online makeup masterclass events with a capacity of 100 tickets each. This is another area where Lauren will continue to explore into the future as her business profile grows.
Lauren describes her subtle makeup style as soft, glowy and glam and while she uses a wide range of products, her ‘go-to’ brands include Mac, Charlotte Tilbury, NARS and Estee Lauder. Having officially opened the doors to her business last month, Lauren is focusing much of her attentions on the wedding trade and says that due to her variety of experience, she’s comfortable and accomplished on working on all ages from 13 up to 90. In her studio she is offering brow and lash services as well as makeup at her studio in Smithstown.
The reaction from the public has already been overwhelmingly positive admits Lauren, who says customers are really struck by arriving into a glamorous studio in what is traditionally an industrial area in Shannon. She’s also been surprised by the level of bookings coming in already. “To be honest, going back to work I thought everything would be quiet. I didn’t think anyone would be booking in for anything much but most people have said they just want to treat themselves now and I think with weddings, people are just going ahead with smaller weddings or putting it off to 2022. It’s been quite busy. Makeup will only really pick up from July onwards as you can go out now, you can book nights out and nights away but weddings are just as busy.
“I have 2023 filling up already. People will book two or three years in advance. I think when people book a wedding, the first thing they think of is hair & makeup – you’d think it would be the opposite – so it’s definitely a priority.”
To contact Lauren, call 086 357 4249, email lrnsexton@yahoo.ie or find her on social media.
